APACHE
Boys life 7”
Douchemaster Records

Finally got around to reviewing this great single from last year and by way of 1976 as written on the back. Two fantastic punkrock songs from their album on Birdman, might be different takes cause it sounds a bit different. But anyone who says they like punkrock should get this, poppy, catchy, energetic and great songs. Man, this is some hot shit!  [TS]

 

BLACK TIME
Play hate songs for blitzkrieg boppers 7”
Hate Records

Really cool single from one of Europe’s best bands. In the same vein as their other stuff meaning noisy, hard, driving beat, punky, angry. They’re pretty damn original. Cool shit as always. They’ve released a truckload of stuff the last couple of years and while some stuff has been better than others, in the end you’ll kick yourself for missing out on any of their stuff. This one has three original songs and a cover of a Lili Z (Volt, Notalents, Splash 4). [TS]

 

BLACK TIME
Double negative LP
In The Red Records

Finding new ways to invent yourself isn’t the easiest thing to do I amagine but Black Time is reinventing themselves while still sounding like we expect them to sound. Picking up bits and pieces here and there and taking steps out into new undiscovered territorys. Ending up sounding at times like all the best bands and keeping their own style all the while. Truly a unique band and one it’s always interesting to hear what they’re gonna do next. This album is excellent! [TS]

 

DIRTY CHINESE THIEVES
Über alles LP
Selfreleased

Six song 12” of punky hardcore. Pretty decent. Kind of in the vein of early Victims or the like, but not as good. A bit too guitar-heavy and hard. [TS]

 

GOLDEN BOYS
Scorpion Stomp #2 LP
Perpetrator Records

Not sure if this is their second album or if that’s just a cool title. Anyway, I do like the Golden Boys they’ve just never really taken off from “like” for me. They have some great songs here and there and got a pretty cool sound and all..they just seem to be lacking that extra punch to push it over the edge. This lp kinda picks up where the last one on Hook or Crook left off, if you like them here’s more of that stuff for you. There’s some pretty good stuff on here we’ll see if they really win me over with this over time. [TS]

 

HENRY FIAT’S OPEN SORE
Mondo Blotto LP
Alien Snatch Records

Latest from arguably Sweden’s best band. For me they’re just getting better and better and this LP isn’t any different. Tons of great songs and more of their trademark sound. Just pick it up – by now you should know that what you get from these guys is pure quality. [TS]

 

INTELLIGENCE
Fido your leash is too long 7”
Plastic Idol Records

One of the Intelligence’s weirder releases, not easily digested. Very arty but still kinda cool. Although I think I prefer the more straightforward stuff on say the ITR albums to this. B-side is a very punk. Short and simple – “Shitty world”. Pretty cool. It’s a little more lofi than usual which might bring it down a bit too. I’d say pick up their albums and go with this when you need more. Pretty cool but not essential. [TS]

 

PHOTOBOOTH
Da me tus besos 7”
Daggerman Records

Lofi – fucked up – stomping – 60’s garage in Spanish. Kinda hard to to describe actually. Sounds like Los Saicos meeting the Demon’s Claws maybe but with toung in cheek it seems. Pretty cool. I like the energy and driving beat. Recorded by Greg Ashley, and it sounds cool. Lofi but still powerful and with crashing cymbals ringing all the way through. Some kind of budgetrock maybe, catchy and with flair. [TS]

 

PVC
Anthology 1977-2007 DBL-LP
Incognito Records

Compliment to the two CDs out on Incognito. This double LP consists of three sides of live stuff with great sound and one LP of  studio stuff from the 90’s. The early live recordings are really fucking cool. The end of the 80’s and early 90’s live wasn’t that interesting though. The studiorecordings from ’89, ’91 and ’06 on the fourth side wasn’t that inspsiring either. Stick with the two cool CDs and you’ll be fine. [TS]

 

RANTOULS
S/t 7”
Chocolate Covered Records

Pretty cool sixties rock and roll with a lot of flair and energy. More in the folk-y vein than the punkstuff on say Back From The Grave but still with a youthful and punky energy. Makes it not-so-retro-sounding and it’s actually real good. No chartbreakers , just a lot of fun, good songs and a nice sound. [TS]

 

SPIDER
S/T LP
Thriftstore Records

Sideproject of some Spits and friends. This includes the sold out Hozac single and some new stuff. All in all six songs. I like it but it’s definitely not as direct as, say, the Spits. I especially fell for the first song, it’s really really cool. The rest of the stuff might grow on me but for now it’s not really my cup of tea. I’d say this is more in the vein of Blank Dogs and this fairly new thing the American’s have got going. Noisy but catchy and lofi and dark. Some of it is cool but it hasn’t tickled my fancy just yet. I’ll keep listening though. [TS]

 

TEMPOS
Speaking of... LP
Norton Records

One of the best obscure ’66 garage LPs. This was put out by Crypt in the 80’s but it’s been long out of print and definitely deserves the reissue treatment (all over again). They’ve got a cool Back From the Grave sound and a high percentage of original songs. They cover “Last Time”, “You’re Gonna Miss Me”, “Money” but do it in such a good way, and as it was a standard thing to do at the time, this stands out as a really cool document of a band that did a little more than just that one seven inch. [TS]

 

VIVIAN GIRLS
I can’t stay 7”
In The Red Records

Don’t believe the hype..or what? Where’d the hype come from to start with? I have no idea.. This is okay but nothing special. Don’t know what to make of this, guess it’s the hype that makes it harder to judge this on it’s own merits. Pretty decent stuff somewhere between rock and pop. The a-side is okay, the b-side is boring. It’s a bit arty sounding which I guess has made them end up on ITR. Hope they sell tons of records and make some money for Larry. [TS]

 

v/a – MAD MIKE MANIACS vol 1-3 LP
Norton Records

Damn cool new series of comps covering the broad spectrum of rock and roll. Garage, surf, rhythm and blues..all the rage! This might be a bit redundant for people that are really into this stuff cause you’ll most likely already have a good chunk of this. BUT – these comps are the tits anyway! Amazing songs, great sound, fantastic sleeves and I can just imagine getting this and not having heard this stuff before and being blown away by it. And even if you are a big-time collector of this stuff you’re sure to find something new on here as Mad Mike was always looking for the craziest and rockinest songs not on the charts. There’s just so much amazing stuff on these comps it’s hard to know where to start off talking about it... Just take my word for it – YOU need these!!! [TS]

 

v/a – VOODOO PARTY LP
University of Vice

Absolutely amazing! Cinematic voodoo/jungle music a’la Perez Prado. Calypso Joe, Los Aragon, Jose Sola, Dulce Maria and Noro Morales are some of the artists.. I’ve never heard of any of them. University of Vice once again gives the world treasures of a forgotten age. Good job! This would go well in any film noirs, jungle adventure flicks, devil worshipper b-movies.. It’s just plain mindblowing – so fucking great! I love it! Big orchestras, huge sounding, amazing songs... You need to hear this before you die! [TS]

As always - you can find more reviews and interviews under the MAGAZINE heading in the menu. Enjoy!